UPDATE: Drain teen killed in gun accident identified

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DRAIN — The 16-year-old Drain boy killed Thursday night when a hunting rifle accidentally discharged has been identified by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office as Austin Lundeen.

The gun fired as Riley Swafford, 15, of Drain was handing Lundeen the rifle, deputies said.

Lundeen was spending the night at Swafford’s home in the 3800 block of Hayhurst Road in Drain.

The younger boy was handing the rifle to his friend when it fired and struck the older boy at about 10:45 p.m., deputies said. Lundeen died at the scene.

North Douglas Superintendent John Lahley said the students involved were a freshman and a sophomore on the football team at North Douglas High School.

The school canceled all athletic events this weekend, including tonight’s season opening football game against Culver High School.

Lundeen’s fellow students have set up an impromptu memorial for the teen. A rock near the school’s football field has been painted with his football jersey number — 4 — and his initials. A candlelight vigil is planned there at 7 tonight.

Lundeen was a running back, a linebacker, a punter and a kicker and a great kid, according to his football coach J.J. Mast.

“My heart goes out to both families,” Mast said. “They’re both tremendous people from great families and it’s very hard to see.”

Mast said Lundeen’s fellow students were also saddened to hear the news.